Dorothy M. Meyer Monahan Emmett

Feb. 2, 1930 – July 17, 2025

Dorothy M. Meyer Monahan Emmett of Billings died July 17, 2025.

Dorothy was born on February 2, 1930, to Ernest E. and Lenora Mjunes Meyer in Roundup, Montana. Dorothy lived with her parents on their ranch north of Roundup until 1937. She attended Sunlit Basin School her first year. 

They then moved to a new ranch west of Joliet. While living there, Dorothy attended Lone Tree School. To get to school, Dorothy and her brother, Donald, rode their horses. At recess time, all the students would take their horses and ride to Shane Ridge to climb on the cliffs. The teachers, Ms. Mars and later Mrs. Waddell, would ring the bell early to warn the students that recess was about over. When they heard the bell, they would all jump on their horses and hurry back to the schoolhouse. 

On Saturday mornings, Dorothy would ride her horse over to Mrs. Fisher’s home near Joliet to take piano lessons. In 1942 or ‘43, her parents sold the Joliet ranch and moved to a larger ranch near Red Lodge, Montana. She attended Fox School for one year and then went to Carbon County High School for three years. Her senior year, she attended Roberts High School, where she graduated in 1948. 

In August of 1948, Dorothy married Robert H. Monahan from Roberts. The couple moved to Glasgow, Montana, where he was employed by Normont Dairies. A son, Larry J. Monahan, was born there. After one year, they moved on to Fort Peck, Montana, where her husband was employed as a policeman and fireman. In May of 1953, they moved back to Red Lodge. A daughter, Colleen A. Monahan, was born in June. In April of 1956, son Brian L. Monahan was born. In August of 1957, they moved to Billings, where she has lived ever since. A son, Michael C. Monahan, was born in June of 1959. 

In 1969, Dorothy attended the Billings Vo-Tech School and received her degree as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in 1970. She became employed at Billings Deaconess Hospital in September of 1970. Dorothy received recognition as Employee of the Year for 1985. Some of her most enjoyable years were when she was working at the hospital. She met many wonderful people and had many treasured friends from her years of nursing. Dorothy retired May 19, 1992. 

Dorothy’s first husband, Robert H. Monahan, died July 18, 1973. 

In the summer of 1977, Dorothy and her son Michael traveled to England to visit her daughter and son-in-law Colleen and Tom Fochs, who were stationed at RAF Alconbury, England. They also toured Scotland, took the ferry to Belgium and arrived by train in Germany. After two days in Germany, they went on to Innsbruck, Austria. 

Her most amusing moment during this trip was when the van broke down on the Autobahn and had to be towed on a trailer to Frankfurt with her sitting in the back of it with Helen Fochs. After turning in the kaput van, the two were sitting on the curb of the commercial air terminal trying to decide what to do. 

Two U.S. Army boys came along and offered them a ride to the military base so they could arrange for transportation back to England. The Army boys were almost out of gas and were scrambling to find their gas coupons, so they could get back to their base and drop the ladies off. They all spent the night sleeping in the Frankfurt Airport with armed guards marching back and forth with their German shepherd dog. That day was a comedy of errors. 

During her time at the hospital, she met her second husband, Dorman F. Emmett, while caring for his brother. They were married July 13, 1978, in Cody. Upon marrying Dorman, Dorothy acquired four wonderful stepchildren, Denise, Douglas, Stacy and Trent Emmett. Over the years, they celebrated many holiday dinners and special events with his children. 

They purchased a fifth-wheel trailer and spent many weekends camping and fishing in Montana and Wyoming. They late summer camped and salmon fished from North British Columbia Island to Neah Bay and Ilwaco, Washington, along with best friends John and Hazel Hinkle. A favorite trip was to the Northeast to see the fall colors and then on to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in 1997.

Dorothy enjoyed genealogy and working in her yard. She loved animals, dogs and horses the most.

After Dorman’s death, Dorothy accompanied her daughter on a family cruise to Alaska in 2006 and trips throughout the Western United States. 

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Lenora Meyer, first husband of 24
years Robert H. Monahan; second husband of 24 years Dorman F. Emmett, son Larry J. Monahan, brother Donald E. Meyer and sister-in-law Diane Meyer. 

She is survived by her children, Colleen A. (Robert) Escovedo of Lincoln, California, Brian (Debi) Monahan of Billings and Michael (Patty) Monahan of Billings; stepchildren Denise Emmett of Rochester, New York, Douglas (Krista) Emmett of Port Angeles, Washington, and Stacy (Deanna) Emmett and Trent (D’Anna) Emmett, of Billings; grandchildren Lisa (Chris) Meredith and Eli (Debbi) Fochs of Yuba City, California, and Shawn (Lindsay) Reichenberg of Billings; numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews; Diana Emmett of Lovell; and Janet Emmett Alexander of Vancouver, Washington.

Dorothy was thankful to the many doctors and nurses at the Billings Clinic, who have provided such excellent care for her over the years.